Match Point is an ongoing series at Last Word on Pro Wrestling, where we look at intriguing matchups in indie wrestling and beyond. They may be dream matches, first-time matchups, or hotly anticipated rematches. WWE Day 1 kicks off the New Year, and on this show, Becky Lynch defends the Raw Women’s Championship against Liv Morgan. Let’s take a deeper look.
WWE Day 1 is a notable pay-per-view event. Given that it will be the company’s first show of the New Year, it may mark a whole new beginning for said company and its wrestlers. A victory on this platform can send any star to the next level, setting in motion continued success throughout 2022 and beyond. One such example of this is Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch defending her title against Liv Morgan at Day 1. Let’s take a deeper dive into this upcoming bout.
Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan, WWE Day 1
In the Beginning
On the May 11, 2020 edition of Monday Night Raw, Becky Lynch announced her pregnancy and subsequent departure from WWE. Prior to said departure, however, she shared words of encouragement. This past July, on Talking Smack, Morgan revealed what Lynch said to her. “When Becky left, I gave her a hug goodbye and she whispered in my ear, ‘When I come back, you’re going to be champion’,” Morgan recalled. “And I’ve thought about that every single day, and she’s back and I’m not champion. But I am so, so, so looking forward to proving her right.”
The following August, Lynch made her return at SummerSlam, shocking the world by not only stepping back into the ring but besting Bianca Belair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship in mere seconds. What developed was Lynch’s more brash, self-important persona known simply as “Big Time Becks.” With this personality came a harsh demeanor and this has been no more evident than in her interactions with Morgan, which took form during the fall. Lynch believed that Morgan, for how long she’s been with the company, has failed to accomplish much of anything. These words, as stinging as they were, only deterred the New Jersey native for so long.
The Feud Intensifies
By October 2020, Liv Morgan was part of Monday Night Raw per the 2021 WWE Draft. It didn’t take long for her to see success, either. On the November 8 edition of Raw, Morgan emerged victorious in a fatal five-way match to become the number one contender for the Raw Women’s Championship, held by Lynch following her own move to the red brand. In addition, at Survivor Series, Morgan and the rest of Team Raw secured victory over Team SmackDown. While Morgan was experiencing growth, “The Man” wasn’t so impressed.
In Lynch’s eyes – and she made this painfully clear on the November 22 edition of Raw – Morgan was nothing short of a loser. Lynch believed that, at Survivor Series, Morgan was on a team of winners while contributing next to nothing. The proverbial knife was dug deeper when Lynch noted Morgan’s failure to win the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match the July prior. Lynch deemed Morgan an embarrassment to everyone from her friends to her family. In a show of defiance, Morgan slapped the Raw Women’s Champion across the face, intent on proving her wrong.
At First You Don’t Succeed…
The stage was set for Monday Night Raw on December 6. In the main event, number one contender Liv Morgan challenged Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Championship. This match was incredibly hyped throughout the show as well, even boasting a video package detailing Morgan’s upbringing and journey to where she was at that point. From a casual fan’s perspective, the proverbial stars were aligned, and even many avid fans believed that this would be the night where the women’s title changed hands.
Morgan and Lynch battled for nearly 15 minutes in the main event, the challenger hanging with the champion each step of the way. Whenever Lynch focused on the arm, as is customary given her wrestling style, Morgan was able to fight back. One could argue that “The Man” didn’t quite anticipate just how much of a challenge the New Jersey native would be in this big-match scenario. With each near-fall, as well as a surprise Rings of Saturn attempt, Morgan inched that much closer to championship gold. Ultimately, Lynch picked up the pinfall victory, but not without using the bottom rope for leverage. “Big Time Becks” left Raw with the gold, but arguably only by the skin of her teeth.
The Road to Day 1
One week later, on Raw, Becky Lynch stood in the middle of the ring to gloat about her successful title defense. Liv Morgan soon interrupted, believing that, based on her performance in the aforementioned title match, she could defeat Lynch for the Raw Women’s Championship. In Morgan’s words, their story wasn’t over. Thus, Morgan challenged Lynch to a rematch at WWE Day 1. Before long, this segment devolved into a brawl. Morgan had the edge early on, but it didn’t take long for Lynch to take advantage by shoving her rival into the steel steps on the outside. From there, Lynch trapped Morgan’s arm in the steps, attacking it with as much ferocity as she could muster. As Morgan attempted to collect herself, in the pain she was in, Lynch gleefully accepted the challenge for Day 1.
As has been the case during the months prior, Morgan’s resolve was unwavering. However, heading into this rematch, Lynch made it a point to not underestimate the challenger again. On December 19, via a WWE Digital Exclusive, Morgan stormed a training facility where Lynch was working out in the ring. Morgan introduced the back of the redheaded trainee’s with several kendo sticks shots, only to be mortified when it was revealed that said trainee was not Lynch but rather a decoy of sorts. Soon thereafter, the real Becky Lynch appeared and the two brawled, the trainees surrounding the ring simply watching. Suffice to say, this feud was too intense to be confined to the boundaries of WWE television.
Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan, Day 1 – In Closing
“Perennial underdog” would be an apt term to describe Liv Morgan, especially as she heads into Day 1 to challenge Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Championship once more. Whether it was on NXT, alongside The Riott Squad, or solo on the main roster, Morgan has been equal parts earnest and plucky in her pursuit for pro wrestling success. Her struggles have been well documented on both week-to-week TV and her Liv Forever documentary produced by WWE. As stated earlier, Day 1 could mark a whole new beginning for certain Superstars; who’s to say Morgan can’t be among those names?
To do so, Morgan will have to exorcise a demon that has been looming over her for months. “Big Time Becks” may be confident to a fault, but this isn’t unwarranted. Between Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown, Lynch has held 6 singles titles in WWE. Furthermore, she is a Women’s Royal Rumble Winner, which speaks volumes about her own pluckiness and determination. If Morgan intends on leaving Day 1 as champion, she will have an uphill battle to overcome. See how this Raw women’s title match unfolds on New Year’s Day.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on the WWE Network and Peacock.
